Skylight-bar.



S. A. SPENCER.

SKYLIGHT BAR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. us. ma.

1,283,583. 7 Patented Nov. 5,1918.

2 SHEETS-SIRE! l.

mm/a fl. EPENCER,

A TTORNE VS S. A. SPENCER.

SKYUGHT BAR.

APPLICHTQN FILED FEB. |6 1918- 1 ,283,583. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z- INVENTOR S/Mfl/[L fi SPENCER BX/M2? A TTORNE Y8 SAMUEL A. SPENCER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

SKYLIGHT-BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed February 16, 1918. Serial No. 217,558.

To old whom it may concern.

ie it known that I, SAMUEL A. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma and Stale of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Slrvligllt-Bars. of which the following is a specification.

One of the n-incipal objects of my invention contemplates the provision of an astragal or pane supporting bar, designed more particularly with reference to its use in connection with a skylight and the like. embodying improved features of construction and arrangement of parts for effecting a durable and eflicient weatherproof joint between the glass panes.

Another object of my present invention is to provide means. in the nature of auxiliary gutters, forming a part of, and communirating with. the main gutter, for collecting the water of condensation. which gathers on the under sides of the panes. and delivering it to the main gutter, the auxiliary gutters being so constructed as to perform the added function of supporting the rests :lor the glass panes.

further object provides an improvemeat in the means for mounting the clamp ing bolt in the nature of a clip fastener securely and adjustably mounted on the astragal. whereby the disadvantageous practire oi punching holes in the main gutter for receiving the bolt, is done away with, and whereby the bolts may be shifted to properly register with the openings pro vided in the weather cap.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class de scribed. which will be extremely simple, durable. etlicient in. operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

\Vith these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the construction. combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures. oi which- Figure l is a to'p plan view of one embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 2 and 4 are sections on the lines 2r2 and 4l respectively of Fig. 1,

F ig. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the parts detached,

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the clamp,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified construction,

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7- and 88, respectively, of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a. perspective VlGW of the clamp ing bolt and clip, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of gutter.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide an astragal or supporting bar including. among other elements, a substantially U shaped gutter 5. This gutter. which may be referred to as the main gutter, may be formed of a suitable length of channel iron having its upper edges bent inwardly toward each other and then upwardly into vertical position, to form auxiliary gutters. The inbent portions at 6 form the inwardly inclined floors of the auxiliary gutters. and the vertically arranged portions 7 form the inner walls of the auxiliary glitters. It may be here stated that the astragal may be made in one continuous length, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, or in cases where the panes of glass are arranged in tiers one above the other, or in stepped relation, the latter being the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawin s, the astragal may be made in sections. Tie sections are. however, identical in construction and it will therefore suflice to describe but one of the sections.

Arranged within the auxiliary gutters longitudinally thereof are the rests indicated at 8 for the panes of glass. These rests are preferably formed oft tubes 01' suitable soft metal. The tubes 8 are supported against lateral inward movement by the vertical walls 7 of the auxiliary gutters, and against lateral outward movement by the inclined floors 6 of those gutters, and it is thus seen that the auxiliary gutters retain the rests in proper position without the requirement of extrinsic fastening devices. The adjacent edge portions of the glass panes 9 extend over the main gutter 5 and lie upon the rests 8 in the manner indicated.

Arranged upon the upper surface of the glass panes and bridging the space which occurs between then], is a Hat strip it.) of soft metal such as lead. This strip adjacent its lateral edges is criinped up over the lower edges of the sides 11 of a weather cap 12 as at 13, the extreme lateral portions of the soft metal sheet being bent over as at 1 t and inclined downwardly and outwardly to bear against the upper surfaces of the panes of glass. This weather cap 12 may be of sheet metal, and if desired it may be made (it such metal as to have a iimited amount of resili ency.

Vhen the weather cap is drawn down wal'dly by means of the clamps to be hereinafter described, the soft metal sheet 10 will be firmly retained, throughout that portion of its width which lies against. the gins-i panes. in close contact with the glass and the outer edge portions 14; of the strip Will likewise be held tightly in engagement. with the glass. Thus, an extremely etticient weatherproof seal will be provided between the sheets of glass so that rain water and dust will he efl'ectively excluded. This downward drawing of the weather cap will, moreover firmly clamp the panes 0t glass in place.

The clamping or fastening means alluded to consists of spaced bolts 35, each including a shank formed integrally with or otherwise suitably connected at its lower end with a clip. The clip essentially comprises a plate 17 having its lateral portions turned down-- wardl as at. 18 and bent outwardly a at W. said turned down portions being of a height substantially equal to the distance between these inner auxiliary gutter i'alls. The downtnrned sides or portions 18 ot the clip have fingers 20 stamped theret'roi'n. and l'l](:-( fingers are oti'sct outwardly from the portions 18 of the clip a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the inner walls oi the auxiliary gutters. The clip, as shown in the drawings, is, in assembling the device. slipped onto the inner walls of the auxiliary gutters in such manner that the side por tions 18 of the clip fit against the inner faces of these inner gut er walls, while the out turned toot portions 19 engage under the auxiliary gutters at the points where the walls 7 and fioors 6 merge one in the other. The fingers 20 tit over the upper edges of the inner walls 7 in the position shown. The bolt extends upwardly in the space between the adjacent glass panes, and extends through an opening 22 provided in the metal strip 10 and through a registering opening 23 pro-- -vided in the weather-ca p 12. The upper protruding end of the bolt is threaded to receive a nut 2+ whereby to tighten the portions of the device together. It will thus be seen that the bolt may, in assembling the device, be ad-- justed longitudinally of the astragal, to properly register with the openings in the strip 10 and cap 12 when the latter are put in position. Furthermore, the practice of having to punch holes through the main gutter to receive the headed ends of the bolts is done away with, and thus a great saving of labor and time is accoin dished. The clips 17 are preferably made ot suitably heavy resilient metal, so that having been adjusted into the proper position in asseinbiing the device, they will remain there against acridental displacement while the assembling process continues. \Vhcn the nut ll is turned down upon the bolt, the cap 12 is drawn downwardly and at the same time an up ward tension is exerted upon the auxiliary gutters, so that the metal strip 10 and the rests 8 will simultaneously be drawn and clamped against the opposite faces of the glass panes.

It Will be noted that at intervals the auxiliary gutters are notched or recessed as at 25. and in this 'ay communication is established between th auxiliary gutters and the main gutter, so that the water oi condensation which forms on the under side of the glass panes, in draining into the auxiliary glitters. may flow through these recesses or openings into the main gutter, the auxiliary Q'lll'ltls thus being prevented from overflowing. Furthermore, the openings serve as vents whereby warm air may circulate up and through the astragal to the top or hip ot the skylight (not shown), to be disclmrged through a ventilated ridge formed on the hip, whereby the air will be kept at a more oven temperature adjacent the glass so that excessive sweating or condensation oi water will be prevented.

The upper and lower sections of the astragal may be conveniently termed A and ll respectively. it will be noted that the upper end oi the lower section B is provided with an upstanding tongue 26. formed by bending up 'ardly an extended portion ot the floor of the main gutter. The section I: rests adjacent its upper end against one of a plurality of purlins. ot a construction c0111- inonly provided. This purlin is indicated at 21'. In order to secure the end of the lower Se tion against the pnrlin, there is provided a metallic clip or Fastening device indicated at 28, and consisting of a strip of metal having it ends, as at 29 and 30 respectively bent around the upstanding tongue 26 and the lower flange of the purlin The lower end of the upper section A has the lower portions of the side walls oi the main gutter extended as at Ill, and engaged between the side walls oi inain gutter of section ii. The upper edges of these extensions 31, fit in the angle formed at the junction of the side walls of the main gutter and the floors of the auxiliary gutters. The floor of the main gutter of section A rests upon the upper edge oi. the clip or fastener 28 as shown, and this floor extended into the upper portion of lower section B and is downturned to provide a tongue 33 which extends toward the. floor of the. main gutter of sect1on B, and which effectually prevents the section A becoming accidentally detached from the lower section. The upper section of the astragal is thus set up or stepped up from the lower section, and is locked at the ]l1nCl31 OI1S of the sections with the lower section against accidental disengagement. It may here be noted that the ends of the weather caps 12 with which both sections of the astragal are equipped, are closed by suitable plates 34, so that no dust or watercan enter the weather caps. At the junction of the two sections of the astragal it will be noted that the upper end of the soft metal strip 10 is bent downwardly as at 35 and fits a ainst the upper ends of the glass panes. he glass of the upper section, it will be noted, extends down below the end of the upper section of the astragal and overlaps the upper portion of the lower panes of glass, resting upon the top of the upper portion of the lower weather cap 12.

In the construction shown in Figs 6 to 9 the astragal or supporting bar 40 1s a U- shaped gutter, similar to the bar 5, and having the auxiliary gutters formed by the walls 41 and 42, corresponding to the walls 6 and 7 of Figs. 1 to 4. The rests 43 are arranged within these gutters, and the sheets 44 of glass are laid on the rests.

The weather cap comprises a body 45 having at each side a substantially V-shaped gutter 46 and the outer wall of each gutter has a flange or extension 47, extending at an angle to the said wall. The weather caps are clamped on the glass in a manner to be presently described, and a cord or cable 48 impregnated with tar is arranged in the angle between the outer wall 46 of each gutter and the adjacent flange 47 between the said angle and the adjacent sheet of glass.

The clips shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive for holding the weather cap to the a-stragal as shown in Fig. 9, comprises a U-shaped member consistingof a body 49 and arms 50, and the body is provided at each end with an extension 51, which are adapted to engage beneath the i'nturned portions of the astragal when the clip is in place. The arms 5001 the clips extend upwardly along the inner faces of the walls 42 of the gutter,

and each arm is provided at its upper end with an outwardly extending flange or rib 52 which engages overt-he edge of the adjacent wall 42. t

The body ofthe clip is provided with an upstanding stem between the arms, the said stem comprising a plain portion 53 and a threaded portion54 and an amiularshoulder is fOrmedbetWeen the said portions. The plain portion of the stem is of a len h to cause the shoulder to engage the un er faces of the sheets of glass, and the stem passes up bctweenthe adjacent edges of the sheets and through an opening in the weather cap where the stem is engaged by a nut 55 to 0 amp the parts together.

In use, the weather cap is pressed down tightly on the tarred cords 48, compressing the said cords and making a tight seal between the glass and the weather cap. Any

moisture that may fall upon the Weather cap will pass away along the gutters 46 or will be deflected outwardly by the flanges 47. Condensed moisture on the inner faces of the sheets will pass away by way of the gutters 4l42. The clip is held fro1n'upward movement by the extensions 51 and from downward movement by the ribs or flanges 52.

It will be understood that sheets of glass may be left as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 or they may be arranged in the same plane as shown in Figs. 6 to 8. In the latter case a connecting plate is provided, comprising a substantially U-shaped body 56, which rests on theedge of the lower sheet of glass. A cord 57 impregnated with tar is arranged within the U-shaped body between the arms thereof and between the edge of the glass and the body.

The connecting plate is formed from a strip bent to shape, and at one of the arms of the body the strip is bent backward upon the said arm as shown at 58 and is then bent downwardly at an angle to the portion 58 as shown at 59, and then is extended parallel with the portion 58 but in oflset relation as indicated at 60, and the free edge of the portion 60 is bent upward at an angle to the said portion as shown at 61. The relative proportion of the parts is such that, when the sheets of glass are in place, the portion 60 will rest upon the connection betweenthe gutter wall 41, and the body of the astragal with the free edge of the portion 61 engaging the under face of the next uppermost sheet of glass.

A tarred cord or cable 62 is arranged in the gutter formed by the portions 59, 60 and 61 near the portion 59 and between the portions 60 and the under face of the glass sheet. The cords 5762 form a seal for preventing the entrance of moisture between adjacent sheets of glass, and when the nut 55 is turned down tightly, the cords are compressed. The upper arm of the body 56 of the connecting plate overlying as it does the upper face of the next lowermost sheet, deflects moisture out of the joint between the said sheets.

It will be observed from Fig. 10, illustrating a slightly modified form, that the particular shape of the upper edgesof the gutters need not be strictly adhered to, and the vertical terminal edges 7 and 42, may be dispensed with. Thus, referring to Fig. 10,

the gutter may have its upper edges 71 bent inwardly to support the rests 72 and slightly eoncaved as seen to form the auxiliary gutters. these edges having openings which admit water of condensation into the gutter.

I claim 1. An astragal section coi'nprising, a main gutter having its side walls at their upper portions bent inwardly at an inclination and then vertically upwardly to provide auxiliary gutters tubular rests laid in the auxiliary gutters longitudinally thereoi for supporting glass panes. a soft metal strip adapted to be laid upon the upper surfaces of the sections of glass for bridging the space between said sections. a. weather cap arranged upon the metal strip. said metal strip having its lateral edges crimped over the. edges of the weather strip. and a clamp means consisting of a bolt extending through the metal strip and weather cap and provided with means for tightening the latter. said bolt having a clip provided with portions engaging the walls of the auxiliary gutters. substantially as described.

2. An astragal section consisting of a main gutter, auxiliary gutters formed on the main gutter and extending in spaced and parallel relation with each other, rests ar ranged in the auxiliary gutters for supporting sections of glass, said auxiliary gutters having notches therein affording communiration between the auxiliary gutters and the main gutter, said auxiliary gutters having vertical inner walls and inwardly slanting floors engaging the said rests for retaining the latter in position.

3. In an astragal, the combination of a main gutter, auxiliary gutters formed on the main gutter, and communicating with said main gutter, rests arranged within the auxiliary gutters for supporting glass panes. a weather cap, a soft metal strip carried thereby for bridging the space between the glass sections. a clip slidably mounted upon the auxiliary gutters. a bolt carried by the clip and extendin through registering openings in the weat er cap and metal strip. and means carried by the bolt whereby the cap and strip may e pressed against the glass sections on one side and the rests be pressed against the glass sections on the opposite side.

4. In an astragal, the combination of a main gutter, auxiliary gutters carried there by, rests carried by the auxiliary gutters for receivin panes of glass, a weather cap having a. so t metal base for bridging the space between the glass sections, a clip slidably mounted upon the auxiliary gutters, and means carried by the clip and enga 'ng the weather cap whereby the panes of g ass may be clamped between the soft metallic base and the rests.

5. An astragal includin a lower main gutter section having its oor at its upper end provided with an upstanding tongue, a (-lip engaging over the tongue and over one (it the purlins for anchoring the upper end of the lower section, said lower section having inwardly extending auxiliary gutters defining an angle between the floors oi the gutters and the side walls of the main gutters, an upper main gutter section having the lower portion of its side walls extended and arranged in the angle formed between the auxiliary gutters of the lower section on the main gutter of said lowersection, said upper main gutter section being supported by said upstanding tongue, and a downturned tongue formed on the floor oi the upper main gutter section, for preventing accidental disengagement of the settion.

('1. An astragal. including a lower and an upper main gutter section arranged in stepped relation to each other. auxiliary gut ters formed on the main gutter section, rests t;llll(tl by the auxiliary gutters for supporting panes of glass, weather strips bridging the spaces between the glass panes, the upper panes of glass overlying the lower weather strip, and fastening means eonneeted with the auxiliary gutters and with the weather cap for clamping the latter against the glass panes.

7 An astragal including a lower and an upper main gutter section arranged in stepped relation to each other, glass panes supported by the upper and lower sections. weather caps arranged on the panes to bridge the joint there-between, means (on lmetiire the weather (381).; with the gutters for clamping said weather caps against the glass panes, the lower cap being extended at. its upper end and engaging upon the upper gutter section, and interlocking means between the gutter sections.

8. An astragal including a main gutter having its side walls bent inwardly and upwardly to provide auxiliary gutters, said auxiliary gutters being notched whereby to establish communication between the auxiliary gutters and the main gutter, and between the main gutter and the outside atinosphere.

9. An astragal including sealing means comprising a strip of soft metal adapted to bridge the joint between adjacent panes, a channel member over the ed e portions of which the strip is erimped, said strip having its lateral portions extending outwardly at an angle and adapted to engage panes along lines spaced from the body portion of the strip.

10. An astragal including a weather cap constructed to bridge the joint between adjacent panes. means adapted to be engaged by the cap for forming a seal between the 5 comprising weatherproof cords adapted to lie upon panes upon opposite sides of the joint oemu-ring between the panes, a channel member havin gutters and having flanges enacting Wifil the adjacent Walls of 10 the gutters in engaging over the cords for retaining them against the panes, and means for drawing the channel member toward the panes.

12. In. a structure of the character described, a gutter having inwardly bent upper side edges forming supports for glass rests, and epertured to admit moisture info the interior of the gutter.

SAMUEL A. SPENCER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. U. 

